Automaton figure.



No. 7||,5|o. Patented oct. 2l, |902.

A R. H. LITTLE. AuTomAToN FIGURE.

{Application led Apr. 5, 1902.)

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No. 7|'|,5|o. .Patented out. 2|, |902. n. H. LITTLE.

AUTOMATON FIGURE.

' (Application tiled Apr. 1902.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Inventar;Y 'F1 nher'l H L'IUIIE.

Attnrnegs.

' No. 7I|,5|0. Patented (Ict. 2l, |902.

n. H. LITTLE. AUTDMATDN FIGURE.

(Application led Apr. 5, 1902.)

(NuModel.) V -3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

NTTED STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT H. LITTLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MAURICE H. MANDELBAUM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

AQTOMATON FIGURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 711,510, dated October 21, 1902.

Application filed April 5, 1902. Serial No. 101.506. (No model.)

To LZZ whom. it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. LITTLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement rin Automaten Figures, (Case No. 1,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication.

My invention relates to automaton figures, and has for its object the provision of a ligure of this class which is adapted to move a member, as a hand, toward and from the mouth, and has for its further object the provision of such a figure which is adapted to hold in its hand substances designed for entry within the mouth, the iigure being so constructed that when the hand is brought to the mouth the substance will be transferred from the hand to the mouth.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism whereby the figure in'its operation may transfer the substance that is to be taken Within the mouth from one hand to that hand which is to be raised to the mouth.

In accordance with my invention I may also provide a receptacle, as a glass, in that hand which is to be brought to the mouth that may contain liquid, which is poured from the glass into the mouth of lthe figure in the operation thereof. Means are provided whereby the liquid may be returned to the glass, preferably after it has been removed from the mouth, so that the glass may be again brought to the mouth and remptied. There is thus provided a continuous circulation for the liquid from the glass through a duct communicating with the figures mouth back to the glass. This circulating path pref.

erably includes another receptacle, as a glass bottle, carried in the other hand of the figure, mechanism being preferably employed for tilting the bottle after the glass has been removed from the mouth to pourthe liquid that has in the meantime been returned to the bottle into the glass. The mechanism employed for operating the iigure may continuously be employed for emptying and refilling the glass,

5o making the operation of the figure a continuous one, which is thus particularly adapted for advertising purposes, though its use is not to be thus restricted.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a rear view of the figure sufficiently uncovered to reveal the essential parts of the operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a'vieW of the motor mechanism for operating the moving parts of the figure. Fig. 8 is a detail of certain of the lever mechanism shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a front View of the mechanism of the figure. Fig. 5 is a side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4 in another position. Fig. 6 is a side view of the mechanism in still another position. Fig. '7 is a front view of the complete apparatus suit-v ably draped that may constitute one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 8 is a side view thereof, and Figs. 9 and l0 are detailed views of the elbow mechanism.

Like parts are indicated by similar charac- I ters of reference throughout the different figures.

One of the igures hands l-as, for example, the left handis designed to be moved toward and from the mouth of the figure, so that substance held by the hand may pass to the mouth and, if desirable, be removed from the hand at the mouth, Whereafter the hand may be lowered to receive additional substance, which may in like manner be brought to the mouth of the igure. I prefer to provide in this hand a receptacle, such as a glass 2, so that the figure may be caused to swallow liquid conveyed to its mouth. In order that the substance swallowed or passed through the mouth of the ligure may be returned to the hand, I preferably provide a duct or passage, such as a rubber hose 3, which returns the su bstance to the hand, preferably through the action of gravity. This duct or passage in the preferred embodiment of the invention extends to the other hand 4 of the iigurewin this instance the right handfrom which hand the substance is passed to the left. When the figure is designed to receive liquids,thehand 4 preferably contains ya second receptacle, as a glass bottle 5, the

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duct terminating in the bottle having communication with its interior. Mechanism is provided whereby the bottle may be tilted, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, so that liquid may pass from same into the glass when the hand holding the glass is lowered and whereby the bottle may be inclined upwardly, as indicated in Fig. 4,.after the glass has been filled and during the time the glass is being brought to the mouth and again lowered to be refilled.

It is obvious that a variety of mechanical means may be employed for accomplishing the several functions above generally outlined, among which is the mechanism l have herein illustrated. For the purpose of accomplishing the various movements by the figure in orderly sequence I prefer to employ a unitary motor mechanism,which may have asa prime mover a small electric motor 6, which is designed to effect the rotation of a worm-jack shaft 7,that engages a worin-wheel 8, carrying cam mechanism 9 and 10. These cam devices are designed to be engaged with the pivoted arms 11 and 12 to effect their successive actuation as the worin-wheel 8 is revolved. Links 13 and 14 are united with the free ends of the arms and terminate at their upper ends in mechanical connections for operating the left and right arms of the gure, respectively. The link 14 engages a crank-arm 15,whicl1 is fastened to the end of a rod 16, constituting the right arm, this rod 16 terminating in a hand 4, which lholds the bottle 5. As the worin-wheel Sis rotated the cam l0 is brought into and out of engagement with the canigroove provided in the arm 12, whereby this arm is depressed to swing the arm 16, so that it may tilt the bottle downwardly,as indicated in Figs. 1, 7, and 8, to empty liquid from the bottle into the glass 2. After the predetermined quantity of liquid has been poured into the glass the cam-roller 10 in disengaging itself from the arm 12 permits the arm 16 to descend through the weight of the hand 4, which is preferably solid metal, the arm in thus descending also rotating, whereby the bottle in lowering is placed in the position indicated in Fig. 4. Other mechanism obviously might be employed for effecting the desired movement without departing from my invention. After the liquid has been poured from the bottle into the glass the cam mechanism 9 is brought into engagement with the cam-groove in the arm 11, effecting its depression, thereby causing a swinging movement of the arm 18 upwardly to force the application of the glass to the mouth of the figure, the crank 19 preferably intervening between the link 13 and the arm 18 for the pur-` pose of accomplishing this movement. It will after the glass may be applied to the mouth of the figure by the subsequent operation of the link 13 and the arm 1S.

In order to secure a life-like motion of the arm 18, particularly the forearm and hand, I preferably mount the hand 1 on a sleeve 20 and journal this sleeve upon a rod 21, that is provided with a pivotal connection at 22 with the humerus portion of the arm 18. It will be observed that the sleeve 20 is so united with the hand that the major portion of the hand will lie below the sleeve, so that as the arm 18 is elevated the sleeve 2O is rotated upon its journal through the action of gravity, preserving the glass in substantially a vertical position until it is brought close to the mouth of the figure. To aid the action ofgravity, I may employ a spring 23, united at one end to the humerus portion of the arm and at the other end to a lug 24, secured to and projecting below the arm 20, whereby rotating tendency is exerted upon the sleeve. It is desirable to have the head portion 25 of the figure tilted backwardly when the glass is applied to the mouth and to effect a tilting of the glass to drain its contents into .the month. To this end there is provided, preferably upon the upper lip, a guiding-ing 26, which engages the glass and as the arm is continued in its elevation tilts the glass and by the same movement forces the head backward. The tilting movement of the glass is opposed by the `spring` 23, which largely effects the restoration of the glass to a vertical position after it is removed from the mouth when the arm is lowered. To prevent the Spring from swinging the forearm-for instance, sleeve 20-so as to tilt the glass in an opposite direction, lug 24 is preferably extended also above the sleeve 2O to engage pin 27, carried by the elbow of the arm 18. Spring 23 instead of being attached directly to the lug 24C may be secured to an arm 28, which is connected at one end of the lug 24E and has slotted connection with the shoulder of the figure, a screw 29 passing through the slot into the shoulder. By means of the screw and the slot the glass when in its lower position is prevented from tilting inwardly, and when in its upperposition, is forced to engage lug 26. The link 28 is not absolutely essential to the construction, but is desirable in case the weightof the glass, with its contents and the hand, is not properly balanced to secure the desired effectiveness in operation. The head portion is preferably only provided with permissive means, whereby it may be tilted backwardly, which comprises, prefer ably, aspring 30, which is interposed between the fixed portion of the form of the figure and the base of the head, this base port-ion of the head preferably comprising a box 31, into which the contents of the glass are poured. When the glass is removed from the mouth, the spring effects the restoration of the head toits normal position. The bottom ofthe box 31 communicates with a suitable duct or pas- IOO tain this lever in the position shown in Fig 1. Suitable connecting means are provided to communicate the turning motion of the shaft 35 to the eyeballs, it being clear that each time the connecting-rod 14 is drawn downward by its associated cam a motion will be imparted to the eye-shifting mechanism. A depending link 37 and rod 38, having an adjustable bob 39, which engages the stop 40, serve to limit and partially cont-rol the movement of the eyeballs.

The operation of the figure will now be readily understood, as it is apparent by the mechanism illustrated that the liquid is first poured from the bottle into the glass, whereafter the bottle is -inclined upwardly, the glass raised to the lips, fluid poured from the glass into the mouth to find its way back to the bottle, and finally the glass depressed to permit the same to be again filled.

It is obvious that the device of my invention may have wide and varied uses and that it need not be limited to the precise functions herein disclosed, and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the disclosure of the invention illustrated; but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portion thereof, the latter being designed to hold a substance, of means whereby the hand may be moved to the mouth of the figure and cause the discharge ofsubstanceinto the mouth,and means whereby the substance may be returned to the hand, substantially as described.

2. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portion thereof, the latter serving to carry substance, of means whereby the hand may be moved to the mouth and be caused to discharge substance into the mouth, and means for transferring the subst-ance from mouth to hand, substantially as described.

3. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portion thereof, ofa receptacle carried by the hand portion, and means whereby the receptacle may be carried to the mouth of the figure and contents thereof discharged into the mouth, and means whereby the substance may be transferred from the mouth to the receptacle, substantially as described. v

4. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portion thereof, of a receptacle carried by the hand portion, means whereby the receptacle may be carried to the mouth of the figure and contents thereof discharged into mouth, and means whereby the contents of the receptacle may be returned thereto after having been received into the mouth of the figure, substantially as described.

5. Inanautomaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portions thereof, of means for effecting the movement of one of the hands to the mouth, discharging substance carried by this hand into the mouth, and means whereby this substance may be brought to the other hand, substantially as described.

6. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portions thereof, of means for effecting the movement of one of the hands to the mouth, 'discharging substance carried by this hand into the mouth, means whereby this substance may be brought to the other hand, and means whereby the substance may be returned by the latter hand to the first hand, substantially as described.

7. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portions thereof, of a receptacle carried by one of the hands, means for effecting the application of this receptacle to the mouth of the figure and to cause the discharge of the substance into the mouth of the figure, and means for returning the substance to the 'other hand of the figure, substantially as described.

8. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portions thereof, of a receptacle carried by one of the hands, means for effecting the application of this receptacle to the mouth of the figure and to cause the discharge of the substance into the mouth of the figure, means for returning the substance to the other hand of the figure, and means for effecting return of the substance from the latter hand of the figure to the aforesaid receptacle, substantially as described.

9. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portions thereof, of a receptacle in each hand, means for effectving the application of one receptacle to the mouth of the figure and discharging the contents thereof into the mouth, and means for effecting the passage of this substance to the other receptacle in the other hand after its reception in the mouth, substantially asV described.

10. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portions thereof, of a receptacle in each hand, means for ef-` fecting the application of one receptacle to the mouth of the figure and discharging the lcontents thereof into the mouth, means for effecting the passage of this substance to the other receptacle in the other hand after its reception in the mouth, and means whereby this substance may be returned from the latter receptacle to the former receptacle, substantially as described.

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1l. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portions thereof, of a receptacle carried by one of the hands, means for effecting the movement of this hand to cause the transfer of substance carried by this receptacle to the other hand, and means whereby the latter hand may be carried to the mouth of the figure, substantially as described.

12. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portions thereof, of a receptacle carried by one of the hands, means for effecting the movement of this hand to cause the transfer of substance carried by this receptacle to the other hand, means whereby the latter hand may be carried to the mouth of the figure, and means whereby the substance may be discharged from the hand that is applied to the mouth into the mouth, substantially as described.

13. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portions thereof, of .a receptacle carried by one of the hands, means for effecting the movement of this hand to cause the-transfer of substance carried by this receptacle to the other hand,means whereby the latter hand may be carried to the mouth of the figure, means whereby a substance may be discharged from the hand that is applied to the mouth into the mouth,aud means whereby the substance may be returned to the said receptacle, substantially as described.

14:. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and a hand portion thereof, of a receptacle carried by the hand portion, means whereby this receptacle may be carried to the mouth of the figure, and means whereby the hand portion carrying the receptacle may be turned to tip the receptacle (when applied to the mouth) as in the act of drinking, substantially as described.

15. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and a hand portion thereof, of a receptacle carried by the hand portion, means whereby this receptacle may be carried to the mouth of the figure, means whereby the hand portion carrying the receptacle may be turned to tip the receptacle (when applied to the mouth) as in the act of drinking, and means whereby the head portion may be inclined backwardly when the receptacle is thus applied to the mouth, substantially as described.

1G. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portions thereof, of a receptacle in each hand, means whereby the receptacle in one hand may be turned to have its contents poured into the receptacle in the other hand, and means whereby the receptacle in the other hand may be carried to the mouth of the figure, substantially as described.

17. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portions thereof, of a receptacle in each hand, means whereby the receptacle in one hand may be turned to have its contents poured into the receptacle in the other hand, means whereby the receptacle in the other hand may be carried to the mouth of the gure, and means whereby the receptacle that is carried to the mouth may be tilted when applied to the mouth as in the act of drinking, substantially as described.

18. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portions thereof, of a receptacle in each hand, means whereby the receptacle in one hand may be turned to have its contents poured into the receptacle in the other hand, means whereby the receptacle in the other hand may be carried to the mouth of the figure, means whereby the receptacle that is carried to the mouth may be tilted when applied to the mouth as in the act of drinking, and means whereby the head portion may be tilted backwardly upon the said application of the receptacle to the mouth of the figure, substantially as described.

1f). In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portions thereof, of a receptacle in each hand, means whereby the receptacle in one hand may be turned to have its contents poured into the receptacle in the other hand, means whereby the receptacle in the other hand may be carried to the mouth of the figure, means whereby the receptacle that is carried to the mouth may be tilted when applied to the mouth as in the act of drinking, means whereby the head portion may be tilted backwardly upon the said application of the receptacle to the mouth of the igure, and a duct communicating between the head portion and the receptacle from which the contents are initially poured,where by the receptacle that is to be carried to the mouth may again be filled, substantially as described.

20. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portions thereof, of a receptacle in each hand, means whereby the receptacle in one hand may be moved as in the act of transferring substance from this receptacle to the receptacle in the other hand, and means whereby the latter hand may be moved to the mouth, substantially as de scribed.

21. In an automaton figure, the combination with the head and hand portions thereof, of a receptacle in one hand, means whereby the receptacle in this hand may be moved as in the act of transferring substance in this receptacle to the other hand, and means whereby the latter hand may be moved to the mouth, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 31st day of March, A. D. 1902.

ROBERT H. LITTLE.

Witnesses:

GEORGE L. CRAGG, JOHN STAHR.

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